Read the report by clicking on the link below
Project Report on Wireless Sensor based HEC Control Mechanism - W. Bengal
Dr. Stremme discussing treatment strategies with Mr. Kan
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019
With the funding of Asian Elephant Support the ECC was able to cooperate with Veterinarian Dr. Christopher Stremme for another year, and purchase new equipment for the ECC Elephant Hospital.
During Dr. Stremme’s last visit, the3 ECC staff worked on monitoring one of the female elephant (Mae Khram Ohn)’s pregnancy. The staff reviewed different birth protocols and created a new version that fit the ECC facilities and management. Dr. Stremme and ECC staff reviewed all the equipment and drugs at the ECC hospital to ensure everything ready for an emergency during the birthing process.
Since Dr. Stremme doesn’t live in Laos, the ECC staff made a delivery plan which required daily monitoring of the progesterone levels of the pregnant female elephant. Once progesterone levels significantly dropped, the ECC staff would contact Dr. Stremme immediately.
As planned, Dr. Stremme was called when progesterone levels dropped to baseline. He was able to come right before the delivery. Unfortunately, the baby was malpositioned and was stuck in the birth canal, so it was a bad case of dystocia. Dr. Stremme recommended surgical removal of the calf because the life of the mother was at high risk. The surgery was done by Dr. Stremme and the calf (that was already dead) was successfully removed from the mother.
Three weeks later, Dr. Stremme came back to the ECC to check the incision, re-suture the surgical opening, and evaluate the recovery of Mae Khram Ohn. The elephant is recovering well.
The surgeries were a difficult test for the ECC staff as they needed to perform catheter placement, provide intra-venous drugs/ fluid administration, learn techniques to restrain the elephant during surgery, and coordinate between all the staff members involved in the surgery
Training ultrasound
Ana Belen Lopez Perez preparing the elephant for ultrasound examination
Dr. Stremme trained ECC staff to perform ultrasound checks. In his previous visits, he did the ultrasounds and the staff tried to recognize the different parts of the reproductive anatomy of the females. However, in his last visit in September, the staff handled the probe and performed the ultrasound. In these sessions, the staff tried to find and identify the parts of the reproductive system. Dr. Stremme supervised the work at all times.
Pharmacy workshop
The ECC staff had many questions concerning drug dosage and storage, when to administer different drugs, what drugs can be combined together, etc. Dr. Stremme and ECC staff worked at the ECC pharmacy to review all of this. They also reviewed how to clean and disinfect surgical tools and how to store them properly.
Microscope
Thanks to Asian Elephant Support, the ECC was able to purchase a new microscope for the ECC Elephant Hospital. The ECC also purchased a camera so it will be easier to train staff to identify blood cells, fecal parasites, etc.
When Dr. Stremme was at the ECC, he held a short workshop about fecal parasite and egg identification. The staff prepared the samples and identified the different eggs under the microscope. ECC staff member Kan showed a talent for identifying the different kinds of parasite eggs!
Testing the scale
The ECC made a new platform for the scale; the new platform is metal and is lighter than the previous one made in wood.
Plan for future visits
Continue to train ECC staff (Anabel and Kan) to perform ultrasounds check on male and female elephants.
Continue parasite identification and quantification under the microscope.
Continue pharmaceutical training for Kan (drugs administration, dosage, when to administer each drug).
Organize mahout workshops at the ECC.
Continue to check the breeding females through ultrasound.
Monitoring male elephants through ultrasound by evaluating testicle size, ampullae, and seminal vesicles.
EEHV is a serious and deadly threat facing the global elephant population both in captivity and in the wild specifically to the young. This has prompted the formation of working groups to focus on understanding this disease and working towards treatments and vaccines needed to help save the elephant population. In 2015 the 1st Asian Working Group was formed. This last November, the 4th Asian Working Group held an international seminar on EEHV in Guwahati, Assam, in northeastern India, home to 2/3 of India’s elephants.
AES has been a supporter of fighting EEHV and was proud to be one of the sponsors for this workshop organized by Dr.s Kushal Konwar Sarma of the Faculty of Veterinary Science , AAU Khanapara and Sonja Luz of Wildlife Reserves Singapore. There were representatives from all (but 2 : Sumatra and Cambodia) of the Asian elephant range countries and included presenters from Japan, China and Pakistan. AES also provided funding for three AES grant recipient veterinarians to present about EEHV in their respective countries: Dr. Amir Sadula (Nepal), Dr. Zaw Min Oo (Myanmar) and Dr. Vijitha Perera (Sri Lanka).
Unfortunately AES President Linda Reifschneider was unable to attend the conference so AES Secretary Janet Dray represented AES. There was much for Janet to learn there about the projects and people that AES supports as well as the conditions, attitudes and culture differences among the many areas where Asian elephants reside.
The workshop organizers packed each of the three days full of activities that included allowing each region/country to present their status of EEHV and for international scientists to show their latest findings and recommendations on detecting and treating the disease. In addition, the Thailand Task Force presented their findings as well as the forms they use to collect data. One recommendation from the Assam workshop was for India to form its own Task Force.
Other activities included a panel discussion with the Forest Dept. and WWF on Human Elephant Conflict. This is a serious problem in Assam and emphasizes one of the different factors in considering elephant welfare that is not an issue for the Western world. The workshop also included several of Assam’s traditions through formal presentations, receiving a Gamosa (a typical woven cotton with embroidery), music and dance presentations.
The last day of the workshop was a field trip to Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary where in addition to a jeep ride through the reserve to see wild Asian one-horned rhinos, Dr.s Kushal and Parikhit taught the graduate veterinarians (some of whom had no elephant field experience) about treating elephants at the mahout camp there, including foot care, feces analysis, injections, and reviewing the elephants medical records.
Not only did this workshop fulfill its mission of gathering veterinarians and researchers around Asia (as well as the UK and the USA) to share information on EEHV, it included an incredible place to visit, an amazing opportunity to connect with AES grant recipients from India, Sri Lanka, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Nepal, and an invaluable experience regarding Asian elephants living in their native ranges.
Suffering a prolonged drought that began in July and absent the rains that should have started in October, the Way Kambas area of Sumatra was lacking any of the natural grasses and plants that usually provide at least 60% of the elephants’ food. Earlier funding help had been exhausted and Dr. Christopher Stremme reached out to AES for assistance.
Calculating the cost at $3.00 per elephant per day and for 27 elephants, and with the situation calling for at least another two months (time needed for grasses to grow if rains come in the near future), $4,900 was requested. Asian Elephant Support was able to act quickly and had funds on the way within a few days. Hopefully rains will begin soon and natural food supplies will again be part of the elephants’ diet.
Thanks to YOU, our supporters, we are able to discuss and vote on emergency requests quickly, and get help to where needed promptly. We truly appreciate your support and hope you will again include AES in your 2020 charitable giving.
AES provided some funding through IEF for a workshop on reducing train-elephant accidents in northern West Bengal.
Here is the final report from the workshop held in India last November.
The SLWCS gave three presentations at the recent IEF symposium garnering the Society international recognition for its innovative and pioneering efforts integrating social enterprise, responsible travel, field research, conservation and sustainable development concepts to create a highly successful model for sustainable community based conservation in Sri Lanka.
In the online part of the course (22 April to 24 May 2019), we learned about anatomy, physiology, nutrition, endocrinology, ultrasonography, anesthesia, restraint, and breeding and parturition management of Asian elephants.
In June we participated in a 5-day practical course in northern Thailand. The first day (10 June) we had lectures on health care management, endotheliotropic herpes virus, nutrition, plasma transfusion and blood cross match at Chiang Mai University in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
The next days were practical training and demonstrations at the National Elephant Institute in Lampang, and Elephant Rehabilitation center, Pang Lah. On 11 June we had presentations on common health problems, tuberculosis, nutrition, and case studies in Sri Lanka and Thailand. From 12 to 14 June we studied rehabilitation, obesity, welfare, anesthesia, practiced using an elephant-like ultrasonography, semen collection, semen evaluation, estrus detection, reproductive hormone monitoring and calf management after parturition etc.
From this trip, we got the opportunity to hear a lot of elephant information and we got to share knowledge regarding elephant health care management from different regions. Therefore, your support is absolutely effective for us and for taking care of our elephants.
Finally, we would like to express our sincere thanks to Asian Elephant Support for your kind support for our trip. Without your support we could not benefit from this training.
Best regards,
Dr. Moe Win Tun
Dr. Zaw Min Htun
Photos from Thailand
Dr. Yaew
At Johnny Elephant camp, Mae-wang area for checking baby elephant that show signs of gastrointestinal pain and diarrhea. Dr. Yeaw performed Antibiotic, pain killer meds and supplement.
Johnny Elephant Camp
At Mataman Camp to provide treatment for a tusker that had respiratory problems
Mataman Camp
We are pleased to support field activities in Sumatra, Indonesia, with much needed equipment for patrols to monitor forests and elephants.
Recently we provided the Seblat Conservation Response Unit with backpacks, raincoats, bedrolls, GPS units for field navigation and small digital cameras for documentation.
We are grateful to project partners for their collaboration and support!
AES President Linda Reifschneider has attended all but one of the International Elephant Foundation’s Symposiums since 2004. They are held approximately every 18 months and the locations have been various countries around the globe. As customary, Linda presented the annual update on AES’s funding activities since the previous symposium.
These meetings are always exceptional in content, with presenters representing veterinarians, field researchers, educations, mahouts (keepers/caregivers), occasional governmental officials, NGOs (such as AES), and enthusiasts. We appreciate the opportunity to help bring some of those we have funded to this gathering so they may share their work and we have a rare opportunity to visit in person. This year was no exception and the location at Zebula was truly a lovely look at South Africa’s version of golf and spa: exceptional scenery and wildlife included!
No elephant gathering is ever complete without hands on with elephants. This symposium was no exception. First introduced to Rory Hensman and his amazing African elephants at a previous IEF symposium in South Africa several years ago, getting reacquainted with them, now domiciled in Bela-Bela, was a very special treat. You are urged to check out Rory Hensman and www.adventureswithelephants.com/ourstory for a true - and truly amazing - story of a man and his elephants.
AES thanks IEF for hosting these symposiums and allowing us to be both presenter and supporter of these gatherings. And, to our supporters, as always, directors cover all their own travel and other expenses related to being on the AES board. Your generous support always goes totally to projects that help Asian elephants as well as those who work with and for them, and those whose lives are impacted by them. Thank you!
Liz started her zoo career, first as volunteer and then becoming an Elephant Keeper at Santa Barbara Zoo in 2008. For 11 years she worked with Sujatha (who passed away in October 2018) and Little Mac, until the Little Mac's passing in September 2019, ending the Zoo's 47 year elephant program.
Liz continues to work as a Zoological Manager at Santa Barbara, working with Western lowland gorillas, Masai giraffe and a host of other species, but her first love will always be for Asian elephants. Contributing to the conservation of elephants by working on the Board of AES, starts a new chapter for her and allows her to carry on the legacy of two beloved elephants who meant the world to her.
This year, the annual EMA conference was held in Denver, CO. The proceedings were held from October 7-11, 2019 at the Downtown Crowne Plaza Hotel. Elephant keepers, enthusiasts, veterinarians, and conservationists from all over the world attended to hear the wonderful presentations, network with colleagues and take a tour of the state of the art elephant exhibit at Denver Zoo.
Denver Zoo elephant exhibit
After a great ice breaker on Monday night at the hotel, the week was filled with presentations on topics ranging from elephant enrichment, training techniques, EEHV research and training, and how to prepare and deal with elephants who pass away. It was an emotional week, with a lot of presenters having the courage to tell their stories in order to help others.
Denver Zoo elephant in the snow
Representing AES was President Linda Reifschneider with her update on fundraising, conservation projects and upcoming events. Linda was grateful for all the zoos and individuals who did fundraisers at California Pizza Kitchen, Panera Bread, and even breweries!
Also representing AES was Dr. Mamatha Sathyanarayana, from Mysore, India, who gave a presentation on her work to support Forest Department Mahouts in her home state of Karnataka in southern India. Her initiative, funded by Asian Elephant Support, includes sessions with Mahouts at the various Forest Department camps since 2015, with a formal Mahout Workshop held in Mysore, India, September 2-4, 2018. The workshop, sponsored in part by Asian Elephant Support, brought Karnataka Forest Department Mahouts together for the first time to share experiences and discuss elephant care and management in forest camps. Mahouts were recognized for their ongoing elephant management efforts, increased their capacity of knowledge, and improved their own competency as well as the welfare of the elephants in their care. And Mamatha’s continued work with these Mahouts resulted in some of them being chosen to participate in a session with students of local schools located in human-elephant conflict areas to present about their work and interact with the students: elephant caregivers as educators telling of their daily work and commitment to their charges.
Mamatha speaking in front of the crowd
Mamatha also got her first experience with snow on the final day of the conference! Zoo day turned out to be a snowy and cold day for everyone, and even though it snowed, the crew at Denver Zoo put on a wonderful afternoon. Barn tours, feedings, training sessions, and even the boys got into the outside pool in the snow for a little dip! It was incredible to see their bachelor herd of 5 Asian Elephants and the huge barn and exhibit and how it operates. The entire zoo was spectacular, including their tropical exhibit (it was warm inside there!!)Thank you to the entire Denver Zoo staff for everything they did for us there!
Janet, Mamatha, and Mindy in the snow
The closing banquet was held in the conference center at the zoo, and the attendees were offered locally brewed beers, wine, and a beautiful Mexican dinner buffet. And it wouldn’t be EMA’s final banquet without a silent auction, awards for elephant excellence, and the announcement of who will be hosting the 2020 conference –Milwaukee Zoo!
This annual event is always filled with networking, lots of laughs and hugs of joy as well as comfort as annually it is our opportunity to celebrate the “highs” of caring for and about Asian elephants and the “lows” for those in our elephant and human community to whom we have had to say goodbye. We head home reenergized and eager to continue our respective efforts on behalf of Asian elephants.
An elephantine thanks to Denver Zoo and the Elephant Managers Association for another wonderful conference! See you next year in Milwaukee!
Audubon Zoo animal care staff in New Orleans is so excited to have the opportunity to support the fantastic work of Asian Elephant Support. In August this year we ran two events to raise funds. We were able to partner with a local sports league to provide a fun night of beer and bingo at one of our local breweries.
Port Orleans generously donated 15% of their profits for the day, and we hope that Pints for Pachyderms will become an annual fundraising event. We also sold travel wine tumblers (because the go-cup is a New Orleans staple!), and it was so popular that we reopened that sale for those that missed the first round.
Both of these fundraisers were in honor of our elephant Panya who arrived at Audubon in 1980 and who we lost in March this year at the age of 55. We are thrilled that in her memory we can support Asian Elephants in range countries through the great works of AES, and we hope this is a partnership that continues for many years.
Little Rock Zoo’s elephant keepers and AAZK Chapter have funded AES work for many years now. 2018 was a 110% rain out! Truly! We saw the new Dumbo and shopped.
This year the sun was out, the weather glorious, and we worked. Volunteer Cynthia Christison and Linda Reifschneider spent the days with an AES table providing information and items for sale.
The real champions, though, were the elephant team and ‘the girls themselves’ – Zina, Sophie, and the most artistic Babe. The keepers had the barn open with displays of the tools used to care for the elephants, items in their diet, and tables of crafts for kids to enjoy while learning about Asian elephants. Little Rock’s public is most enthusiastic toward Babe’s art work and that translated into about $2,000 for Asian Elephant Support’s efforts.
Our sincere thanks to the wonderful elephant barn team of Kristin Warner, Justin Marren, Johnny Renuard, Will Shackleton, and Chris Sauder. We all appreciate elephants and we, AES, truly appreciate you!
AES Welcomes Mindy Ussrey to its Board of Directors. Mindy started out as a zookeeper at the Topeka Zoo in 2004. She then took her love for elephants to Jacksonville Zoo for over a year before heading to Buffalo to become the Elephant Manager and animal behavior manager from 2011-2018. Through her dedication and passion for elephants she has been an enthusiastic fundraiser for AES. She can’t wait to see how AES grows and prospers.
Read the Report by AES Grantee, Dr. Mamatha Sathyanarayana:
Elephants for Ele's Workshop
Madikeri, Karnataka
Sonja and Linda
Recently, 2-year old Sumatran elephant calf Linda (who shares her name with our AES President!), born at the Tegal Yoso Elephant Response Unit (ERU) camp in Way Kambas National Park, Sumatra, was moved with her mother Riska to the Bungur ERU camp so that 1-year old Sonja, a calf born in Bungur, would have a playmate!
The 2 mothers (Riska and Gunturia) and their daughters (Linda and S
The CMU Mobile Veterinary Van purchased with AES funds has been quite busy since its official inauguration this past March. Here are a few pictures of its progress in helping Asian elephants in Thailand (which, in turn, will extend to solving medical issues for elephants worldwide). Thanks to Dr. Yeaw for providing most of these photos.
You, our supporters, have made this all possible. Many thanks!
The van's official inauguration at CMU on Thai Elephant Day
Being blessed by a Buddhist monk
Examining and prescribing treatment at a remote camp
Collecting research data
t does not have to be fancy to get the word out about AES
This summer Rochester, NY has been abundantly warm and sunny making it quite pleasant to raise money for AES at Janet’s stall at the Public Market. The third sale on August 25 was slower than the two previous ones but the combined result of all three sales was $512 for AES initiatives. Many friends wanting to help make the sales successful contributed by doing the sale with Janet, donating items to be sold from their own homes, and making gift cards and bags to sell.
Brochures and AES items were placed at the front of the stall grabbing many shoppers’ attention and initiating chats about conservation, elephants and AES. The set-up was very simple which worked quite well at a market where people are casually strolling by and browsing.
If you’re looking for a way to help AES on a rainy (or even sunny) day consider cleaning out a closet, basement, attic, etc to find things for a garage sale. Or get together with some friends and have a group sale. It’s rewarding in so many ways: organized house (okay – maybe just an organized drawer), finding new homes for your unused items, finding old treasures, meeting new people, spreading the word about AES and raising funds for its projects.
From May 16 to May 22, 2019, three Mahout staff from Sumatra, members of FOKMAS (Indonesian Mahout Communication Forum), participated in a study tour of the African Lion Safari (ALS) elephant management program in Ontario, Canada. The Sumatra participants were Mr. Nazaruddin, Way Kambas National Park, Mr. Tri Sulistiyono, Way Kambas National Park, and Mr. Hidayat, Bali Elephant Camp.
The ALS facility manages a large breeding herd of Asian elephants and is currently home to 16 elephants. Of those, 10 are adult females with calves ranging in age from 6 months old to 5 years old, and there are 2 males. The facility is open to the public and provides educational demonstrations, elephant rides, and a daily lake swim for the elephants. Most of the elephants are managed in hands-on system which makes the facility an ideal site for a visit by Asian Mahouts as this is the primary elephant management system used across Asia.
The Sumatra Mahouts had met Charlie Gray, ALS Superintendent of Elephants, when he participated in an Indonesian Mahout Workshop in Way Kambas National Park in 2009 and demonstrated his method of starting handling of young calves. As several camps across Sumatra have now had multiple elephants calves born, FOKMAS felt there was a need for their members to learn more updated techniques of handling and managing captive born calves, and requested an opportunity to visit Charlie and ALS, and experience this program first-hand.
During the visit to ALS the Sumatra Mahouts were able to view elephant calf and adult training sessions, elephant foot care, public demonstrations and interactions. They also observed the daily husbandry routine of feeding, watering, bathing elephants, and cleaning enclosures.
The Sumatra staff was especially impressed with the cleanliness of all the elephant housing and enclosures at ALS, and the care taken with elephant feeding. They were very interested in the training and found the elephant management and mahout work system very disciplined. They also felt that the ALS staff is very devoted to the elephants and they appreciated the fact that there are elephant demonstrations and elephant rides offered to the public.
The Sumatra Mahouts will make a presentation about their experience to the Director General of Biodiversity Conservation in Indonesia, as well as to their direct supervisors and colleagues in their respective jobs. They will also share the information with Mahouts from across Indonesia during the next Indonesian Mahout Workshop, tentatively scheduled for late 2019.
The Sumatra staff are very grateful for the visit and thank African Lion Safari for their kind hospitality and for generously offering the opportunity to learn from Charlie Gray. They thank Charlie and his staff for all of their help and support during the visit. Finally, they thank Asian Elephant Support and the International Elephant Foundation for providing support for travel and visa expenses.